Picture a form twisting in space. This is Henry Moore’s Large Spindle Piece. It stands here in Buffalo Bayou Park. The Large Spindle Piece is more than just bronze. It is a testament to artistic vision.
Created in 1969, this sculpture found its home here thanks to the Knox Foundation. They gifted it to Houston in 1979. Initially, the plan was for Tranquility Park to host it. However, Moore himself intervened. He wanted a better spot. He envisioned a space with more room. He sought a grassy area in Buffalo Bayou Park.
The Large Spindle Piece now rests on a circular concrete base. The base is painted a matte brown. The sculpture’s curves and points draw inspiration from Michelangelo’s The Creation of Adam. Moore’s work often features curved forms. These forms exist in three-dimensional space. A notable void is frequently present. By the end of his career, Moore became the most successful living artist at auction.
This Large Spindle Piece isn’t unique. It’s part of a series. Moore created it in four sizes. First, there was a plaster maquette. It was cast in bronze. This was the Maquette for Spindle Piece. Then came a larger plaster working model. It too was cast in bronze. This became Spindle Piece. The Large Spindle Piece followed. Finally, the largest model appeared. It is known as The Spindle. It was carved in travertine in 1981.
The Spindle series took inspiration from the Sistine Chapel. Specifically, it was inspired by God’s hand reaching for Adam’s finger. Moore described it as two points about to meet. The Large Spindle Piece reflects this. However, the fingers are going out, not in.
Moore also drew inspiration from flint. He cast it in clay. Drawings from 1938 also played a role. His 1939 work, Three Points, is related. Moore explained that the points give action. Inwards for Three Points. Outwards for Large Spindle Piece.
The Large Spindle Piece that you see before you is one of an edition of “6+1” bronzes. Hermann Noack foundry in Berlin cast them in 1974. This particular cast is numbered 4/6. Other casts reside around the world. You can find them in Ohio, Saudi Arabia, and Japan.
Consider the journey of this Large Spindle Piece. From Moore’s vision to its prominent place here in Houston. It is a reminder of art’s power. It is a testament to the artist’s ability to see form and movement in the world around us.